Akira Ryō

Akira Ryō is a Japanese former professional motorcycle road racer and development rider, born on 20 October 1967. He was All Japan Superbike champion in 2001, runner-up in 1996 and third in 1999, and he finished third in the 1997 Suzuka 8 Hours with Shinja Takeishi and second in 2000 with Keiichi Kitagawa. Fans outside Japan know him for regular wild card entries in international championships, and in the Superbike World Championship he entered between 1995 and 2001, taking a win in the Japanese round in 1999 and three further podiums. He was the main development rider for Suzuki's GSV-R MotoGP bike, raced it several times in 2002 and 2003, and nearly caused an upset at the 2002 Japanese Grand Prix by leading much of the race before finishing second to Valentino Rossi.